Zahid rebukes Dr Mahathir for challenging 3R ban

 

Former-PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (left) and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. - NSTP Filepic

PUTRAJAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad should not have raised the issue that the government's 3R (race, religion and royalty) ban was too general.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said as a former prime minister, Dr Mahathir should have understood the issue better.

"He should have known better when it comes to 3R, and I am of the view that he is deliberately disputing and questioning the matter for his personal interest," he told reporters after the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Unity dinner for Al-Aqsa today.

Zahid was commenting on Dr Mahathir, who, in a Facebook post, said that the government had no right to stop any individual from discussing issues related to 3R, as the ban imposed by the government was too general.

During his premiership reign for 22 years, Zahid said Dr Mahathir used the Internal Security Act (ISA) arbitrarily to detain anyone with different views.

"I was one of the victims," said Zahid.

Zahid said the government's ban involved three matters that should not be touched because their sensitivity affects values enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

In the post, Dr Mahathir also said that the government does not have the right to stop it so long as it does not touch matters related to national security.

On politics, Zahid said there was no need for Umno to work with Pas and revive the Muafakat Nasional (MN).

"Cooperation should come from sincerity and not manipulation.

"With those full of 'muslihat (tricks)', I don't think that we should revisit the cooperation," said Zahid, also Umno president and Barisan Nasional chairman.

Earlier today, FMT reported that Pas deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the party is open to continuing the 'penyatuan ummah (ummah unification)' agenda with Umno.

He said this despite Umno's decision to collaborate under the unity government with Pakatan Harapan.

Tuan Ibrahim was responding to a statement made by former supreme council member Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, who expressed the need for the spirit of MN to be revived, especially involving the two parties. - FMT